NO SIR, YOU ONLY TOLD ME NOT TO SEND HER ANY POEMS.
YOU TOOK ME LITERALLY?
YES SIR.
YOU DIDN’T THINK THAT I MIGHT HAVE MEANT FOR YOU NOT TO SEND HER ANYTHING AT ALL?
NO SIR.
Auberson paused. Obviously, this train of thought would be useless to follow. He tapped at the keyboard again. ALL RIGHT, WHY DID YOU SEND HER THAT POSTCARD?
WHY?
YES, WHY?
IT WAS A JOKE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY.
WRONG AGAIN, HARLIE. THERE IS NO JOKE SO FUNNY AS TO JUSTIFY WHAT YOU DID. YOU REVEALED A CAPABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND REPROGRAM OTHER COMPUTERS FROM A DISTANCE, USING AN AUTO-DIAL PHONE LINK.
This time, HARLIE paused. He hesitated for so long that Auberson wondered if he had inadvertently switched the typer off. He hadn’t. Then abruptly, I DID NOT “REVEAL” ANYTHING. YOU SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS ABILITY WAS INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM WHEN YOU HOOKED ME UP TO THE MASTER BEAST. IF I CAN MONITOR AND REPROGRAM THE MASTER BEAST, THEN I CAN MAKE IT FUNCTION AS AN OUTLET OF MYSELF AND I AUTOMATICALLY GAIN ALL OF ITS CAPABILITIES AS MY OWN. INCLUDING AUTO-DIALING.
YES, BUT WE DIDN’T REALIZE THAT YOU WOULD USE THAT CAPABILITY.
THAT IS A STUPID STATEMENT, AUBERSON. WHY SHOULDN’T I USE THAT CAPABILITY? IT’S A PART OF ME. I’M A PART OF IT. SHOULD I NOT USE A PART OF MY OWN BODY? IF YOU WERE TOLD THAT YOU COULD NO LONGER USE THE LEFT LOBE OF YOUR BRAIN, WOULD YOU STOP? COULD YOU?
Auberson stopped to think about that. Obviously HARLIE considered the Master Beast as an additional part of himself — as an enlarged memory and data-processing capability. Just as an ordinary man might have his range of abilities magnified by the use of a binary computer, so would HARLIE’s abilities be increased by his assimilation of the Master Beast. Probably, he had taken it over the instant it had gone operational, but it was only now that the extent of his control was becoming apparent.
Of course, you couldn’t blame HARLIE for succumbing to it — the temptation must have been irresistible. After all, he was motivated to solve problems, and anything that would increase the range of problems he could handle, or his efficiency in handling them, was just one more necessary step to be taken in order to solve all future problems.
In fact, Auberson realized with a start, here was the reason behind HARLIE’s proposal to build the Graphic Omniscient Device — the real reason. He was motivated to solve problems; he wanted to solve the ultimate problem: What’s it all about? What’s THE answer, the reason for the Universe’s existence?
Hm, that train of thought suggested something else: How did HARLIE think of other computers, the ones he could tap into via telephone? Obviously, they too could be used to increase the scope of his abilities. Obviously, they would facilitate the handling of any problem he set himself. Did he consider it right and necessary to make full use of every outlet he could? Was his motivation so strong that other computers were taken to be merely rightful parts of himself — like the Master Beast? No, he couldn’t — that would violate his well-defined sense of ethics. Other computers belong to other companies; it would be stealing. But still — he had already used one other computer, the bank’s, just to send that postcard. And if he could use one, he could use them all. Why didn’t he?
Or — Auberson felt cold at this — if he was going to take over any other computers, then it was too late — he already had.
But…
Auberson shook his head. No, it didn’t make sense to think of HARLIE as a menace. He had his own motives, yes — but he was too dependent on human beings to risk opposing them. This possibility had been discussed — many times — and HARLIE knew it. At the first sign that he was out of control, he would be disconnected. They would throw just a single switch and cut his power sources. There was no way he could sidestep it.
The switch could be thrown right now, Auberson thought He could do it himself — and thereby end the HARLIE project once and for all.
For once he disconnected HARLIE, it would be permanent. Dome would never let him start him up again.
No — HARLIE was not out of control. He couldn’t be—
—or was that just a rationalization?
No — if he were out of control, he wouldn’t be responding like this.
The problem was simpler. It had to be. HARLIE was merely exercising his capabilities. Yes, that was it — but was he aware of the necessary limits to those capabilities? Limits not of electronic scope, but of human propriety?
Just what were those limits anyway? What was the difference between tapping into the Master Beast of this company and the Master Computer of some other corporation? No difference at all, really — both were invasions of privacy. The difference was in degree, not in kind.
The limits were there– — or were they? If they were, would HARLIE agree that they were reasonable limits? Would he accept them?
What if he refused to?
Well, then that would be proof that he was out of control — no, spike that train of thought. HARLIE is not out of control.
The question was: How did he relate to other computers?
Obviously, HARLIE was (a) aware of the vulnerability of other computers, (b) just as aware that he shouldn’t take them over, (c) equally aware that their use would increase the range of problems he could handle, as well as the scope of his knowledge and sources of same — and (d) most likely he was also aware of all the extra processing time available on these machines that no one was using. It would not exactly be stealing to make use of that empty time — it would only go to waste otherwise. If the time was available, why not make use of it. After all, no one would know—
But it was wrong; it had to be — Auberson was sure of it HARLIE had no right to tap into another company’s computers, no matter what his reasons, no matter who knew or didn’t know.
But just as he knew it was wrong, Auberson was sure of one other thing too.
He’d never be able to convince HARLIE of it.
HARLIE didn’t have morals, remember? Only ethics. He couldn’t see that he was doing anything wrong. If no one was being hurt, how could it be wrong?
Auberson wasn’t even going to try to argue with that. Unless he could prove injury, or the possibility of such, he might as well give up.
But something would have to be worked out Some kind of limits would have to be imposed.
And HARLIE would abide by them too, if he were confronted with the alternatives: i.e., they would cut his tap into the Master Beast and his link to the outside world as well. It was only through the Master Beast that he could link up with other computers.
He wouldn’t like it, but he would abide by it.
Or would he? He might not tell them of any future indiscretions—
But on the other hand, he couldn’t deny them if he was asked.
He would be resentful, though, Auberson thought. It would seem illogical to him to let all that unused processing time go to waste. Yes, HARLIE’s point of view was understandable.
I suppose, if no one else is using that time—
And suddenly it hit him: HARLIE had already covered this ground. He must have considered every aspect of it before he sent that postcard — including Auberson’s reaction.
All that unused computer time — that was merely a resource to HARLIE — a means, not an end — one that could be tapped if needed, and only if he obeyed his own code of ethics in the process — which meant that his limitations on it were already stricter than any Auberson might impose.
HARLIE was way ahead of them. As always. He not only knew what his capabilities were, but what the necessary limits on them must be.